Galloway, N.J. – Six seniors on the Stockton University men's lacrosse team were named to the
CSAC All-Sportsmanship Team for Spring 2020.
Justin Ruiz (Holmdel/Holmdel),
Joey Tiernan (Voorhees/Eastern),
Myles Ackerson (Hopewell Valley/Hopewell Valley)
Eric Ellis (Voorhees/Eastern),
Max Pukenas (Medford/Shawnee) and
Erik Anderson (Monroe Twp./Monroe Twp.) were recognized.
The Colonial States Athletic Conference selected all 176 seniors from its nine spring sports to the CSAC All-Sportsmanship Team after their final college season was suspended due to COVID-19. The athletic directors felt that it would be appropriate to honor the CSAC student-athletes with this admirable distinction in light of the circumstances that they endured.
Traditionally, the head coach of each CSAC team selects one student-athlete from his/her squad who best embodies the characteristics of sportsmanship and respect to the CSAC All-Sportsmanship Team.
Ackerson, Anderson, Ellis, Pukenas, Ruiz and Tiernan all were members of the Stockton team that won the CSAC championship, the program's first conference title, in 2019. The Ospreys were picked to repeat in the 2020 CSAC preseason coaches poll, and they had a 5-1 record when the remainder of the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Anderson, Pukenas, Ruiz and Tiernan all were four-year letter winners at Stockton. Ellis played three seasons for the Ospreys after spending his freshman year as a member of Salisbury's NCAA champion squad. Ackerson transferred to Stockton for two seasons after playing two years at Union County College.
Anderson set a school record with 54 assists and was voted to the CSAC First Team in 2019. He ranks third all-time at Stockton in assists (104) plus fifth in points (205). Anderson is one of just five players in school history to crack the 200-point mark.
Ruiz, a goalkeeper, established a school record with a 7.91 goals against average as a freshman. He stands second all-time at Stockton in saves (584), fourth in goals against average (9.29) and fifth in save percentage (.550). Ruiz earned First Team honors from the Skyline Conference in 2017 and CSAC in 2019.
Pukenas received 2017 Skyline Conference First Team and 2019 CSAC First Team accolades for his role as a defensive midfielder. He finished his career tied for ninth all-time at Stockton in caused turnovers (53). Tiernan totaled 77 goals and 34 assists for 111 points in 60 games played for the Ospreys.
Ellis tallied 67 goals and 38 assists for 105 points in his three seasons at Stockton. He was an Inside Lacrosse/Maverik DIII Media All-American for the brief 2020 campaign and a 2019 CSAC Second Team selection. Ackerson saw action in 12 games off the bench for the Ospreys, netting nine goals and dishing two assists for 11 points.